Ato Forson reveals GHC150.3 billion debt burden inherited from Akufo-Addo era

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has reaffirmed that the government faces a massive debt burden of GHC 150.3 billion in domestic bonds over the next four years—an obligation inherited from the previous Akufo-Addo administration under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).

Speaking on ‘The Point of View’ on Channel One TV, Dr. Forson highlighted the urgent financial challenges the government must address.

“We have domestic bonds that we inherited. In the next four years put together, we have to repay GHC 150.3 billion, of which in 2027 alone we have to repay debt of GHC 57.6 billion, and in 2028 we have to repay GHC 52.5 billion,” he stated.

Beyond the debt crisis, the Finance Minister also raised concerns about the struggling energy sector, which he described as being “on its knees.”

“An energy sector that is throwing out an annual shortfall of in excess of $2 billion every single year that the state must look for money and finance,” he stressed.

To stabilize the sector, he revealed that the 2025 budget has allocated GHS28 billion in support.

“If we had failed to do that, the energy sector by year-end would have seen difficulties, problems, and this is something we inherited,” he added.